JPH0520033A - Method and device for program execution - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the method and device for program execution which perform processing while the utilization efficiency of a memory is increased by storing in-execution libraries, which are coupled with respective application programs, as one library. CONSTITUTION:The in-execution libraries 14 corresponding to the respective application programs are stored as independent modules and the addresses of the in-execution libraries 14 are stored in a system working area corresponding to the respective application programs. When the respective application programs are executed, the addresses stored in the system work area 11 are referred to and the in-execution libraries corresponding to the application programs in execution are read out and executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program execution method and apparatus capable of storing and executing various application programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an application program is loaded and executed in a small-size information processing apparatus such as a handy terminal which does not have an external storage device (secondary storage device) such as a hard disk. The system used is the same as that of a personal computer having a general secondary storage device. That is, in a general personal computer, the application program is loaded from the secondary storage device onto the main storage device and executed. At this time, the run-time library is also linked to each application program and stored in the secondary storage device. Loaded into main memory. In a handy terminal or the like, a combination of an application program and a runtime library is loaded in the main memory similarly.

[0003]

In recent years, as the price of memory has decreased, a small-sized information processing apparatus equipped with a memory having the same capacity as a personal computer has appeared. In such an information processing apparatus, since the number of application programs that can be stored in the memory at the same time increases, a plurality of runtime libraries combined for each application program are also stored. But,
The memory of such a small information processing device, as well as a general personal computer, each application
If each execution library is stored in correspondence with the program, the efficiency of memory usage becomes poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example. By collectively storing the runtime library combined with each application program into one, the utilization efficiency of the memory is improved and processing is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program execution method and device capable of executing the program.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a program execution device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a program execution device capable of storing and executing a plurality of various application programs, and storing means for storing a runtime library corresponding to each application program as an independent module and an address of the runtime library for each application program. The address storage means for storing the program and the execution time of each application program are referred to, and the runtime library corresponding to the application program being executed is read and executed by referring to the address stored in the address storage means. And control means for controlling the control.

In order to achieve the above object, the program executing method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, it is a program execution method capable of storing and executing a plurality of various application programs, wherein a step of independently storing various application programs and an independent runtime library corresponding to each of the application programs are provided. Storing as one module, associating each application program with the runtime library, and executing each application program, and reading and executing the runtime library corresponding to the running application program. Have.

[0007]

In the above structure, the runtime library corresponding to each application program is stored as an independent module, and the address of the runtime library is stored corresponding to each application program. When each application program is executed, the address stored in the address storage means is referred to so that the runtime library corresponding to the application program being executed is read and executed.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of a small information processing apparatus having no secondary storage device according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a CPU, which is a system R.
The operation of the entire apparatus is controlled according to the program stored in the OM 8 or the memory 6. A display device 2 displays various processing results or messages to the operator. A keyboard 3 is operated by an operator to input various data and function instructions. A power supply circuit 4 supplies power to this device. 5 is a battery which is the main power source of this device. 6 is a memory, for example RAM
Etc., and stores various application programs. A backup battery 7 supplies electric power to the memory 6 so as to retain the contents of the memory 6 even when the main power supply battery 5 is exhausted. 8 is a system ROM
And stores the system program of this device.
A communication port 9 is connected to a host computer or the like and executes communication control. An application program can be received from another computer via the communication port 9 and loaded into the memory 6. An expansion port 10 connects an expansion device required for each application.

With the above configuration, the ROM is activated when the apparatus is activated.
CPU 1 by the system program stored in
Controls the entire device. And this system ROM8
When the application program is loaded through the communication port 9 by the communication program stored in
It is stored in the memory 6. After that, the device operates according to this application program.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory state on the memory 6 in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a work area for a system program stored in the system ROM 8 and 1
2 and 13 are program areas (driver programs for controlling expansion devices connected to the expansion port 10).
(1) (2)) is shown. Reference numeral 14 is a runtime library according to the execution method of the present embodiment, and 15 to 18 are various application programs according to the execution method of the present embodiment.
(1) to (n) and 19 indicate empty areas.

First, the application program (1)
When the activation of (normally the main processing) is instructed, the system program searches the runtime library 14 and saves the loaded address in the system work area 11. Next, when executing each application program, the application program (1)-(n) 15-
Upon receiving a request for calling various runtime libraries from the system 18, the system program executes the system work area 11
The entry of each library is called based on the load address of the runtime library 14 saved in the table.

Conventionally, since the run-time library 14 is connected to each of the application programs (1) to (n), the same number of run-time libraries are stored for each application program. Therefore, in the above-mentioned example, if each application program requires the same runtime task, n the same runtime task is loaded on the memory 6. However, by configuring as in this embodiment, since it is sufficient to store only one common runtime library, the memory utilization efficiency is improved.

Note that this efficiency becomes higher as the memory capacity becomes larger and the number of application programs loaded becomes larger.

The process of the system program is shown in the flow chart of FIG.

When the application program (1) is started in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2, the runtime library 14 is searched, and the address of the runtime library is stored in the system work area 11 in step S3. Thus, in step S4, the application program waits for an instruction to call the runtime library 14, and when the call is instructed, the process proceeds to step S5 to load the runtime library 14 stored in the system work area 11. Read address. And step S
6, the entry address of the corresponding runtime library 14 is determined based on the address. Next, in step S7, the library is executed.

Since the run-time library is fixed, it can be created by passing parameters to meet various requests and stored in the system ROM 8 together with the system program. This eliminates the need to load the runtime library 14 onto the memory 6 as shown in FIG. As a result, the free area 20 where the application program can be used freely
Spread further. Thereby, the utilization efficiency of the memory can be further improved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the memory utilization efficiency of the information processing device having only the main storage device, and it is possible to cope with more kinds of application programs.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, the present invention can of course be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the runtime library combined with each application program is collectively stored in one to improve the utilization efficiency of the memory and perform the processing. There is an effect that can be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a small-sized information processing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory management state according to the program execution method of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a memory management state with improved memory utilization efficiency according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing by a system program of the small-sized information processing apparatus of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 Display 3 Keyboard 4 Power Supply Circuit 5 Main Battery 6 Memory 7 Backup Battery 8 System ROM 9 Communication Board 10 Expansion Board 11, 30 System Work Area 14 Runtime Library 15, 16, 17, 18 Application Program 19, 31 Free space

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A program execution device capable of storing and executing a plurality of various application programs, wherein a storage means for storing a runtime library corresponding to each application program as an independent module, and an address of the runtime library are provided. An address storage unit for storing each application program, and a runtime library corresponding to the application program being executed by referring to the address stored in the address storage unit when each application program is executed. A program execution device comprising: a control unit that reads and executes the program. 2. A program execution method capable of storing and executing a plurality of various application programs, comprising a step of independently storing the various application programs, and a runtime library corresponding to each of the application programs. The step of storing as one independent module, the step of associating each application program with the run-time library, and the execution-time of each application program, the run-time library corresponding to the running application program is read and executed. A program execution method comprising: